Thankful Thursday | Lisey & Piper
This week, I am thankful:
for all the Piper updates I get
It makes me so happy to see how much joy Lisey is getting out of having little Miss Piper in her life. They're such a happy pair!
for my new straightener
Man, every time I use the new one, I still am mentally preparing myself for having a hair or two pulled. I have not adjusted to the silky smooth experience of having a non-broken straightener. Heh.
I definitely should have bought this sooner. But at least I have one now!
(Some of you were asking why I straighten my hair; I usually just do a quick straighten on my bangs because they go haywire otherwise.)
for some rain, finally
We have had multiple episodes of rain this week, which is a serious mercy because the ground here was getting pretty dry.
for highs in the 80s
I am so glad to not be in the high 90s right now. And I would be very thankful to not see those again all summer long, actually. 😉
for a little getaway
A little while back, my therapist suggested that perhaps a small solo trip would be just the thing for me.
So I went home, found a few days between shifts in the upcoming weeks, and booked two nights at a little town in PA called Jim Thorpe.
I had a lovely time, with absolutely no agenda or plan, which is quite manageable when you are flying solo. 😉
It did rain quite a bit, but I managed to get out a lot when the sky wasn't dripping.
And I think the clouds helped to keep the temps down a bit.
10/10, would recommend.
And I am grateful I got to go!
for the ability to walk and walk and walk
I walked almost 15 miles in the 48 hours I was in Jim Thorpe; I am thankful for a healthy body that can move.
for a reliable car
Whenever I take a road trip, I am freshly thankful for a reliable car.
I have had my van (a Toyota Sienna) since 2013, and it has literally never, ever had a mechanical problem. It has only needed regular maintenance, plus repairs when squirrels chewed the wires.
Seriously, what a great vehicle! 11 years, 0 problems.
Good for you to plan your getaway!
You did not pay a lot of bucks for your bangs 😉
I am so thankful for sunny spells, as late in the summer we now see many butterflies and hear the exited buzz of lots of bees that s9 far hid themselves. I so enjoy sitting next to the buddleia and the hibiscus and see and hear the insects on their flowers. A perfect spot for a coffee and a book. Or just a coffee.
We’re all so different. Going off alone for 2 days would have depressed me! I like company when I travel. My sisters and I are planning a trip to Iowa in October to visit our brothers.
@Nan, same here. Part of the fun of going somewhere is having people to share things with. Being alone on a trip sounds like I'd just sit around and be miserable and lonely.
@Battra92, I love car travel only. I love to travel with frugal people and I love to travel alone or alone with my dog.
I love love love traveling alone. I guess this separates the introverts versus the extraverts.
@Nan, travelling alone is one of my favourite things to do! I also love going to the cinema alone. I also enjoy doing things with friends but I really like solo adventures. I like going at my own pace and choosing what I want to do.
Pennsylvania has some beautiful country to see! Glad you took some time for yourself. 😉
Thankful for new groomer we tried yesterday. Rescue dogs look so much better & actually did really well around a bunch of other (variety of sizes] dogs that roamed within the grooming area. Now trying to figure out a manageable schedule for my budget.
Thankful for rescue dogs (ok only 1 of 2) who were skeptical about new groomer (but both were happy afterwards). They are so loving & happy dogs. 🙂
Thankful for the cooler weather (also). Especially days without high humidity.
Thankful for teen & ability to (physically) do things that I am unable to do. Got a pile of (actual tree) logs pulled out of area been (storing) in & cut up (with axe & hand saw). We burned up huge pile of tree limb sticks which cleaned out area we want/need to build wood shed in.
Thankful for being able to get more outside projects done in yard.
Thankful for teen wanting to still be silly. Enjoying still being a kid while can.
Thankful for hardware getting in more metal trellises. I earned a $5 reward & used on another metal trellis to add to (already had) others. That project is coming along & looking good/doing what I need.
Thankful for Kristen & her site to be able to learn & share with all of you.
Have a great weekend. 🙂
My parents have always loved Jim Thorpe. They take their bikes and do the bike trails. Oh and after my daughter was born, my labor and delivery nurse was talking about loving cycling and mentioned Jim Thorpe as one of her favorite places. So funny to actually see pictures from the town instead of hearing about it.
Two days alone sounds absolutely lovely to me. I like vacationing with people, but some solid alone time is also wonderful (but pretty impossible in this stage of life with young kids).
You should plan a trip to Jim Thorpe in the fall and another in the winter!
Beautiful year round!!
That looks like a fun getaway!
This week I'm thankful:
*for a little rain. It sounds like our weather conditions have been similar. It's still crispy, but less so.
*that my 3rd son was able to go up in a plane with a member of our church who is a pilot. He had a blast. He is seriously interested in airplanes, so this was a big deal for him. It was pretty cool that they were able to fly over our house and get pictures. Also, I'm thankful they didn't crash. (Yes, this was a slight fear for me.)(To be completely honest, this was more than a slight fear.)
*for ripe, local peaches.
*for funny kids.
*for a really amazing congregation. We have heard HORROR stories from other pastors about unkind people in their churches. We don't have those stories. On Sunday, the church celebrated the 20th anniversary of my husband's ordination and 20 years at this church with a party (and gifts). This might not be terribly strange, but they have recognized this anniversary EVERY year (that is very uncommon). And they always take care of us. They don't fight. They love our children. I cannot imagine a better situation to be placed in.
*Also for my husband who also happens to be my pastor. I am biased, but I do think he is a good pastor. I see what he does "behind the scenes," and I am thankful for his pastoral care.
@Jody S, my dad is a retired pastor. The majority of what they do is never seen by anyone but their families, but a caring pastor is such a blessing. I'm so glad the church acknowledges the anniversary, you are right that it is rare for that to happen anymore. Sounds like they love your family and their pastor very much.
@Jody S, I'm so happy to hear that your church cares for your family so well. My husband is also a pastor and we’ve had mostly very positive experiences with the two churches he’s pastored. My two children have been doted on by both churches and they have cared for us well. I’m glad to hear that other churches do the same!
@Jody S, I personally have some HORROR stories about bad pastors. Your wonderful hubby is obviously also a wonderful pastor. In my experience, they're out there but (sadly) they're rare birds. Your congregation sounds rare as well (no fighting? that is amazing!) 😉
@Jody S, I've only been at my church 2 years, but I love our pastors and their wives. Our Senior Pastor has been here 10 years in Dec., and the church had a potluck, gave them monetary gifts, and this spring, he and his family went on a paid sabbatical for 7 weeks to rest and rejuvenate. It's a really great group of people.
Great list, and glad for your refreshing getaway!
I'm thankful:
- For friends! (Life can be hard and I am just so grateful for our mutual support).
- That I went to the pool to work out my stiff muscles yesterday even though it was slightly rainy and a little cool. I almost had the pool to myself and the sprinkles were a really neat effect while being in the water.
- For a new produce stand at the end of our road that sells good stuff for reasonable prices. The veggies are grown right there!
- To live in the woods.
- For good sleep.
--That we had a short stretch of cooler weather, which meant I could run my oven to cook for guests last night without wanting to fill my bathtub with ice water and submerge myself.
--For a compliment from one of our guests about my cooking. He's not a food person--I really do not understand people who literally just eat to live, but he's one of them--and he told me the chocolate pudding I gave him a month or so ago was one of the best things he's ever eaten. His exact words were, "I eat something maybe once a year that I really stop to think, "Wow, that's really good," and that was it for this year, I guess." I win! 🙂
--For the ceiling fan in my bedroom. I very much dislike the electronic noise of fans, but with no A/C, I would not sleep without it in the summer.
--That I am strong enough to load 100+-pound bales of alfalfa hay, and smart enough to figure out where to put the last bale when I realized I was definitely NOT strong enough to lift it all the way up on top of the other bales. (I was loading it into our van, and I put it in the passenger area next to the door. :-))
--That my husband's foot is better now, and he can once again take care of things like bales of hay and animal water.
--For multiple sons who can safely use guns and thus can take care of things like snakes for me. I am not comfortable enough with guns to be a safe shot, which is actually a liability where I live. But not one I care to rectify with a lot of practice.
@kristin@going country, you shoot snakes with a gun? What are the snakes---pythons? I am a pretty good shot, but to shoot snakes that's sharp shooter territory. Maybe I should look into that as I am terrified of any snakes (bad childhood experiences)!
@Regina, Rattlesnakes and bull snakes. My husband will kill bull snakes with a hoe or shovel or something, but rattlesnakes are always dispatched with a gun. It's not a far shot usually, even if it's a small target (the head). All the men/boys in our family are good shots. Thankfully. My daughter probably will be too.
That solo trip looks so fun! I once went on a solo trip down to Atlanta, and made a side trip to see Flannery O'Connor's home in Milledgeville, GA (before they really cleaned it up and gentrified it, from what I hear). There was nobody there but a docent, so I was able to just enjoy the peace and quiet and experience.
This week I'm thankful (in order of greatest magnitude to least):
That DS#1 had his last official doctor's appointment. His wound is still closing, but the doctor was very pleased with how it's healing and said "Just keep doing what you're doing and call if you have concerns." DS is so happy to not have to go back to the hospital offices (God willing). I told him it feels a little like when he no longer needed homeschooling assessments! A little bit.
That we were able to put DS's unused apartment to good use. He rented his first apartment right before all the medical stuff started, and was obviously unable to move in but is still in the lease. My best friend from college happened to be passing through town on her way to the National Eucharistic Conference. Her flight had gotten cancelled so she was driving and exhausted. We were able to give her a place to crash before resuming her journey, and we were able to visit for a bit! She lives 8 hours away, so we see each other maybe once a year, if that. It was such a blessing.
That the rain did not stop us from cooking outside yesterday. Everyone is always pleased with hot dogs and burgers cooked outside: DH, because it avoids using energy and he can burn documents in the fire; the boys, because burgers and hot dogs cooked over flames > hot dogs cooked any other way. All I do is make corn on the cob in the crockpot and cut up a watermelon.
That I picked a good watermelon! Last time I got a weird, tasteless, fibrous--nearly chewy--watermelon. It scared me away from getting them until they were on sale this week and I dared. This one had the proper texture and flavor.
That even though we have a long-haired cat he has few hairballs. This morning he had the second one he's had in six months. I do brush him every morning, and he doesn't seem to shed as much as you'd think. I'm also thankful that Clark did not decide to hork it up under a bed where it would escape notice, but right where we'd see it, and he drew our attention to it so we'd clean it up promptly. Good cat, I guess.
@Karen A., I'm interested in your trip to Milledgeville to see FOC's home. From FOC's letters, one does get the impression that it wasn't cleaned up or gentrified. For example, she advised a fellow author who was about to pay a visit (I think it was Katherine Anne Porter) to "wear OLD shoes because this place is very muddy and manurey." (FOC herself raised chickens, ducks, and peafowl; her mother raised cattle.)
@A. Marie, When I went there--and this was 18 years ago--there were outbuildings that the docent admitted hadn't been repaired in decades, and I was advised not to walk on certain areas of the grounds because they weren't quite safe, apparently. The house was in pretty good shape but I could tell it hadn't been spruced up in a while--it looked, in my mind, just like it did when FOC lived there. The second floor was not open to visitors because it needed restoration. I have read that it is in the process of restoration now.
Yes, there were lots of dirt paths. My sandaled feet got very dusty (it was a dry, hot October when I visited). No peacocks, no cattle, no livestock at all. I have heard that since the college or some institution took ownership of Andalusia they've been able to raise money to actually raise peacocks to strut around. And they have a fancy Andalusia Interpretive Center that, architecturally, looks nothing like the house itself. https://www.visitmilledgeville.org/blog/post/meet-andalusia-interpretive-center/
I'm glad I visited before all that. It was a lovely visit. I even wrote a poem about it. 😉
When I was docent/head of collections at our local historic home, I desperately wanted to have some peacocks roaming around the place. Peacocks were a big theme of the house, with two different peacock wallpapers (which I researched) and a peacock fountain in the walled garden. I was, however, nixed by the county. Too loud, which I can't dispute, frankly. And it's not 1680 any more, which I also couldn't dispute.
@Karen A., I've read (multiple sources) that best watermelon is 2 fingers wide stripes & moderate color green. Dark green is either really sweet or headed towards tasteless. And no brown spots. The last few watermelon I picked up I used this system & they were actually some of the best I've had.
Love the picture of Piper walking on a leash.
This week I am thankful:
- for cooler than normal weather with high temperatures in the low 80s and lots of rain. Putting out 50 bags of mulch is easier in 80 degrees than 90+ degrees.
- that darling grandson doesn't have an ear infection. He has not been feeling well for a few days and the pediatrician thinks it's mainly due to teething.
- that I can work from home today so I can be on standby in case grandson needs to be picked up from daycare.
- that I got to go to lunch with friends, including one that no longer works with me.
- that PT is helping with my plantar fasciitis.
Thankful for the cooler weather and the rain we have received this week! It's definitely not "cool", but it is a good 7-10 degrees cooler than we've had the past few weeks.
Thankful for the time I get to spend with my grown kids. All came over for dinner last Friday, younger son came back Sunday afternoon for a haircut and spent a couple hours, saw a movie with my older son yesterday in the middle of the day since we both were off work. When we lived even just 2 hours away we didn't get all these quick visits or afternoon lunches or whatever.
Thankful my parents seem to be getting back to their normal. Health issues for now have settled down and life isn't being dictated by feeling bad and having appointments. They're getting out a bit and having fun again.
Thankful for friends to call when you have a bad day or just need someone to understand even when you don't make much sense.
Thankful for such beauty in the landscape of our world. Sunsets, rivers, beaches, and beautiful trees. So much beauty in what can sometimes be an ugly world.
Jim Thorpe does look like a very pretty town, Kristen, and I'm glad you enjoyed your stay there.
This week, I'm thankful for cooler weather again. Even though we didn't get the rain we needed (all but a few drops passed us by), a high-pressure system is now blowing through, and I can turn off the AC and fling open the windows once again. Ahhh.
And I'm currently awaiting the arrival of my annual 1/4 steer, so I'm thankful for the friends who have continued to do this for one more year at least. They're in their mid-70s, and I'm not sure how much longer they'll want to keep raising steers. But for one more year, I and the friends with whom I share it will have much better and cheaper beef than anything available in a supermarket.
The last month has been rough. I’m trying really hard to think of something to be thankful for.
I am thankful for my loved ones, Calico Kitty, and Rescue Pup.
I am also thankful that I can share in the happiness of others IRL and on this blog.
@Bee, Hoping things look up for you soon!
@Bee, it sounds as if your problem with Florida summers (as described yesterday) is similar to my problem with Central NY winters. From April through November, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else--but from December through March, ennnnhhhh. Still, I've put down deep roots here, and here I'll stay.
As for the Hawaii trip you had to cancel, you might try a reframing along these lines: It was unquestionably a major disappointment, but not a major disaster (a hurricane, an accident causing loss of life, etc.).
And I must add that an incident with Delta Airlines back in 2013 cured me not only of Delta, but of air travel altogether. (Briefly, Delta wouldn't put a passenger off the plane before takeoff who was obviously both drunk and seriously mentally disturbed from the moment he boarded; a steward had to be detached from regular duty to keep this guy under control, and the rest of us spent the entire flight on the edges of our seats.) I haven't flown since then and don't intend to.
@A. Marie, We stopped flying after a trip to Atlanta where we had three young kids and delays made what should have been a 2 hour trip into 8. DH said we could have driven in that time...and a lightbulb went on.
@Karen A., and @ A. Marie,
Thank you for your kindness and good advice. This too shall pass.
A New York winter is indeed the flip side of a Florida summer. I wish it could be 72 and sunny everyday with moderate humidity. I was looking forward to escaping Florida for the rest of the month. This was not to be. You are right, A.Marie. It is disappointment but not a disaster. It was not life changing.
I admit that I am suffering from general malaise which is stealing my joy. This is actually rather strange for me. Some of it stems from personal things such as my daughter’s recent surgery.
However, some of it comes from my worry over the state of the world. There is just so much hate and outrage everywhere you turn. I am not pointing out any one group or individual here. There seems to be enough blame to go around. I am trying to divest myself of this negativity, but it is an election year.
So be kind. Listen to others. Discuss policies and ideas. Read and learn.
I can give a hearty AMEN to a reliable car, seeing as how I don't have one. It has been a real pain. I am currently driving a second-one-this-week rental while my car is getting its new-to-it engine, because the first rental they gave me had a badly leaking tire. I just want to be able to drive, people.
However, this is Thankful Thursday, so let me give my thanksgivings:
1. I finally got my survivor's appointment with Social Security done and gave the needed paperwork to them. I am over my full retirement age, and we were married long enough that I can draw widow's benefit in addition to my paycheck until I retire at age 70, when I can decide to draw my own SS or continue to draw DH's. SS insists on a phone appointment for survivor's benefit application, which was set for 7/19, the day of the big IT outage. It was postponed till August, but I got lucky and called this Monday, right as they had a cancellation for yesterday, and you bet I grabbed it.
2. The approved-for-organic-gardening snail bait I got seems to be working well. I had "The Attack of the Snails" going on for a while in my raised beds.
3. I already had a certified copy of my marriage license, which I needed for yesterday's SS claim, which I got well before any of this happened, so I didn't have to take off work to go get it at the courthouse.
4. I have a really comfortable bed.
5. Some of the chickadees at my feeder are getting comfortable enough to sit still and look at me until I get quite close, such as when I'm refilling the feeders.
@JD, I wish you a speedy resolution to the car problems. But I'm glad you are getting through the whole SS process, despite the delays caused by the Crowdstrike snafu. And my chickadees and goldfinches are now so busy in my sunflowers that they're absolutely fearless: Not only do they not fly off at my approach, but THEY scold ME to get lost, the little ingrates!
@JD, I put my marriage liscence & final divorce paperwork all in my end of life box (important documents needed) to have readily available if/when that day comes to go to Social Security office. The only thing I don't have is his birth certificate (but have a picture of need to get downloaded & printed). It helps I know a really good Social Security attorney that already talked with me & helped with information to help smooth the process (if not available).
@A. Marie, I'm enjoying watching the goldfinches enjoying our crispy zinnias.
I am encouraged to hear of your Sienna's stellar performance, Kristen. We have a 2018 Prius and hope to be as fortunate!
This week our darling granddaughter is visiting in all her nine year old sass, and our Thankful bucket is overflowing accordingly:
1) For the way she slips her hand into mine whenever and wherever we walk. I'm not expecting this to last forever, and I thus treasure it all the more.
2) For her enthusiasm about every single ocean-related activity we've suggested- boogie boarding, wave & sand walking, stand up paddleboarding, searching for and scooping up sand crabs, tide pool exploration, and Ocean camp. Speaking of which . . .
3) Seven hours of daily Ocean camp this week, which she is loving, and which is giving me seven hours each day to do mundane but important things like exercise, shop, do laundry, and sweep sand out of the house, LOL.
4) For the ten mile walk I took yesterday with a girlfriend, while above beloved granddaughter was at Ocean camp. We talked and laughed and shared and enjoyed lunch before we parted. I am so thankful for my female friends as I continue thru this odd process called aging.
5) For how lovely this summer has been so far, temperature wise. We've been in the 70's up until now, but may finally hit 80 later this week, at which point we'll probably give in and turn on the A/C. That was not a complaint for the record, just an observation!
1. That the car-buying experience is over.
For Reasons, I bought a car for someone.[1] I never like buying cars under the best of circumstances; this time was less pleasant than usual because it was short-notice and I’m a bit under the gun already. Selecting, test-driving, and even negotiating weren’t so bad but the actual buying experience (pay them, sign papers, etc) was horrible. The dealership was unbelievably incompetent, from big things like finding the check that the payor FedEx’d to them to little ones like recording the correct mileage on the paperwork. I am incredibly grateful that it is over.
2. That the elevator is working again.
My roommate was wiped out for the 2.5 months it was broken, from having to use stairs - which he can’t really do anymore after his illness this fall. Now I have to decide what to do about the companies that missed what turned out to be an obvious fix.
3. For my knitting group.
Its nice, once a week, to go to the store and hang out with people who know almost nothing about my life, because then we talk about other things.
4. For niblings-in-process.
Not one but two of my niblings will be having babies in the next 6 months. It’s going to be fun.
[1] I did not pay for it, rather I did all the work.
So glad to count my blessings today! This is a wonderful exercise.
1. I’m thankful for all the ceiling fans we have in our new home. Southeast Louisiana is hot & humid! Obviously, we have central A/C but out in the carport those 2 outdoor fans are extremely helpful if I’m doing something outside.
2. I’m thankful that I’m seeing more evident progress on all the unpacking, sorting & putting away that has been happening for the last month. It’s starting to look & feel like home!
3. Thankful that when I am feeling anxious or overwhelmed I can call my sister, SIL or dearest friend. Talking with them always lifts my spirits & makes me feel better.
4. Thankful that we were able to get our new state drivers' licenses (real ID) with no problems. It helped that I brought all the proper documentation needed. The clerk said that rarely happens.
5. I'm also thankful that only 1 tiny item is left on our repair/new bathroom list. Yay for less noise/mess/people in our house.
6. Thankful for the almost daily rain we've had the last few days. It has helped to lower the temps a bit.
@LDA, you have a real ID from your previous state? If so, I'd not expect to have to jump through all the paperwork again just because you moved.
@LDA, at my last house I wanted ceiling fans on both (front & back) outside covered porches. I researched & found ceiling fans that would be capable of Michigan weather & purchased. I can honestly say that those outdoor ceiling fans were a good investment as they helped circulate the air on covered porches & gave a decent breeze of air (in medium setting) on hot summer days & nights.
One day, I want to have a porch with fans!
I loved my Sienna. Never had a single problem with it, which is why I am now Toyota4Lyfe.
Grateful:
Hmm.....my health is up and down. On Sunday I was very pleased with myself for being able to get up almost all the steps from the beach without my cane by grabbing onto vegetation and yanking. I'd forgotten to bring my phone so I wasn't abe to call Son for help. He showed up when I was two steps from the top (the top step being the huge one) and helped drag my sorry carcass up. I declined help from some very nice men. So that was good, but for the past two-three days I've been so sleepy in the mornings, it's been pitiful. Oh well, whatcha gonna do.
For my hot tub. I have to use an immersion heater to get it over 104 degrees (stupid government rule about scalding) but once I do I can boil myself like a lobster.
I finally found a solution to a vexing home problem.
Annoyed:
That my hair, my best feature, is suddenly so weird and awful and like tangly excelsior. Considering cutting it all off to be short. I haven't had short hair since 1984, when my favorite outfit was old men's tuxedo pants and a thrifted 1970s orange men's blazer. Hmmm...
That I simply cannot place a ridiculous gothic novel I read in the 1970s; some tenant of my grandmother's left it behind and of course I read it along with every other book in the place. It involved a sprigged muslin dress and a girl who had lived in a London terraced house, which when I was 12/13 meant it had a patio. And, of course, some kind of forbidding marital home and forbidding martial husband. I don't know why I care since I don't like those books anyway but it's bugging me. Back to Google Search, I guess.
@Rose,
Probably a Georgette Heyer novel -she did have one called "Sprig muslin" but I'm wondering if "April Lady" might be it?
@mbmom11, Not her style. Much more Gothic and not Regency. Hmmmm....
Ugh, why don't I proofread? "marital husband" (actually not funny) and "which when I was 12/13 meant a house with a patio out back." Actually a terraced house is usually referred to as a rowhouse in the US.
"Which when I was 12/13 I thought meant a house with a patio out back." I need more coffee, sheesh.
@Rose,
LOL
We all have those days
Your pictures from Jim Thorpe are lovely! I'm so glad you were able to get away!
This week I'm thankful:
* for great weather. Our evenings have been really nice and the daytime has been warm enough to swim, though I did wear pants all day yesterday. Sometimes it's nice to have a break from shorts and put on some jeans!
* that I like my in-laws and that they do fun things with my kids.
* that I was able to make it to my Thursday morning exercise class today. It was the first time since school let out for the summer.
* for all the ways Kristen's blog has made my life better. My grocery budget has been struggling this summer and I'm having both my in-laws and my parents over for dinner tonight, but to help with the cost of it I'm making Kristen's fluffy homemade hamburger buns. I know that things like this are an option because of her blog. Also, Kristen, I appreciate the thought you put into yesterday's post. It was not my question, but it was evident that you put a lot of thought and time into it and it touched my heart. Thank you.
* for the skills my husband has that not only benefit our family, but are allowing him to help our neighbors right now. I do not have the skills to help them, but he does and even though his free time is short right now, he cares and is willing to help them. He's a good guy and I appreciate it. 🙂
1. I am thankful for a friend who visits weekly and gives me a chance to vent, cry, rejoice and just plain talk out all of the caregiver stresses. This blesses me in so many ways and came along quite unexpectedly.
2. We have been having SO much rain lately. My goodness. Afternoon thunderstorms and lightning and dark skies. I admit I was hoping for some more sun this summer but I am enjoying the afternoon showers - they cool things off, I don't have to water my flowers, and there is nothing like sleeping during a good heavy rain.
3. For the revival coming up at my church. We have some guest speakers, extended worship and I am so excited for a time set aside to bathe in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
4. For our comfortable home that holds all our hearts hold dear. It gives us shelter, warmth, security and embodies that undervalued word home.
5. For my husband who is heling well after a surgery to his right foot. He is a trooper and is our hero every day.
We are finally having rain after such a dry summer. It feels like a mini vacation to not have to water my garden every day. Also grateful for how well our two rescued dogs are doing after coming out of bad situations, that my very chubby girl kitty has lost 8/10s of a pound and her flaky skin has cleared up since we changed her diet, for a quiet summer, and my sweet family, always.
Your mini trip sounds lovely. So glad you had fun.
I’m thankful for …
1) Andy, a stranger, who saved me and my 2 girls from drowning in the river. Please pray that God would bless him immensely for his good deed.
2) A chance at life for my girls and I. Can’t imagine how devastated we would be if one is us lost our lives.
3) Fun times kayaking/
canoeing and camping on the river.
4) For my husband not having to work much overtime this summer which means we get to spend more time with him.
5) For sleep. It’s amazing how 8 hours of sleep can help me function so much better in the day. I have more energy and am in a much better mood.
@AW,
What a terrible and frightening experience with your girls! So glad to hear you are all well. And wonderful to read that a stranger stepped in to the rescue.
@AW,
I’m glad Andy was there for you. May God bless all of you.
We also did a small road trip to Pennsylvania this weekend to drop off our kids at camp, and I was thinking how we really need to come back and explore some more. Thank you for the tip on Jim Thorpe!
1. This was my boys first sleepaway camp, which I'm very thankful we were finally able to swing and have some quiet time for ourselves at home.
2. We took an international trip to see family this summer, something I'm also very thankful for that we can do as it is quite expensive and takes up a lot of our vacation time.
3. Thankful that my oldest kid got married this summer and is finishing up his graduate degree.
4. And super thankful we were all able to travel to the small wedding ceremony, not a given.
5. Thankful for bike riding that my husband and I enjoy doing together, all the great pathways and destinations nearby and the health to be able to push ourselves.
The picture of Piper on the leash - love!
1) Thankful for DS17 for giving so generously of his time. He won the Presidential Service Award for volunteering, and has learned so much from this opportunity.
2) That it's supposed to cool off this week. I'm ready for slightly less sweltering temperatures.
3) That even though I have a long & nagging injury (gluteal tendinopathy), I'm not banned from working out. I have to experiment to figure out what works best & how to reduce pain.
4) That I finally have an appointment with a PT (I've been on the wait list for months).
5) For meeting new people at my workout class.
Your solo trip sounds lovely! So glad you got to go.
I'm thankful for the chance to get together with several different friends this past week.
For the garden, which is starting to produce more. We love fresh vegetables, and I also find gardening to be very relaxing.
For our church choir director, who is such a talented, sweet, encouraging person.
For my job, which I really love.
For my family's good health.
I'm very thankful for phones and texting for long distance family and friends. I don't know how the pioneers handled leaving their family with only the ability to write. (I did used to write a lot of letters in college, maybe I should get back into that habit!)
I'm thankful for my local friends, too. I had my monthly charcuterie night with one friend yesterday, a semi-regular game night tonight, monthly puzzle night tomorrow, and we are going with a larger group to a public lake Saturday! All opportunities to socialize and have fun that are very low cost.
This week I am thankful for:
My 13 year old will still come up and hug me! Not in front of his friends (haha) but he has no problem seeking out and receiving hugs from me at home!
A fun double date night this past weekend.
I have to work this weekend which means overtime. My husband is stepping in and making sure my son makes it to try-outs and he is planning a special ‘dude-night’ for just the two of them. He’s a great bonus-dad!
What a delightfully charming town Jim Thorpe looks to be!
I am working to restore my gratitude habit and appreciate the space here to do so:
-I am grateful for the myriad of experiences I’ve had over the last 10 days, which included a work trip to St. Louis, a family road trip to Oregon with a night at the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, and a night at a beach house in a sweet little beach town we’d never visited, and Portland. I’m finishing the road trip solo today as the family flew home and I’ve welcomed some alone time in the car with my pup. (I am driving as I’ve stayed 2 extra days to see clients in Portland and Eugene).
-Grateful to be going home today and see some beauty along the way (Mt Shasta, among other natural landmarks).
-As Kristen mentioned, I’m also grateful for my reliable vehicle-a 2012 Honda Pilot.
-For my traveling partner and best pet, Maple the mutt.
-For my sister’s hospitality. She hosted our family of 5 plus our dog while we were in Portland. Our group brings a lot of energy, so I’m always appreciative of those who want to host us.
-My recent promotion, which allows me opportunities to travel regularly.
I have never been a good solo traveler. I get lost too easily. When I get lost with someone else its an adventure, but when I get lost by myself I panic. Haha.
This week I am thankful for air conditioning. It has been hovering around 100 every day for weeks. Ugh. I would be so miserable without it.
I am thankful for friends that buoy me up when I think I am sinking.
I am thankful that I will never, ever run out of good books to read.
I am thankful for a significant raise at work. I almost don't know what to do with the extra money. Haha.
I am thankful for the extra cheesy cheese and onion enchiladas at a favorite restaurant I am having for dinner tonight for a belated birthday treat, and for the company of my friends celebrating with me.
I love a good solo trip! And that place looks lovely!
Thankful for a good cardiologist visit - and the weaning process started on my beta blocker (for Tachycardia)....I'm hopeful it goes well and there will be a future thankful for that!
Thankful tomorrow is payday, its been a tight 2 weeks, but i made it!
Thankful for friends who always give me their "fridge clean out" when they leave for a trip - I haven't had to do a big grocery shop in 3 weeks!! (The freezer is your friend!)
Thankful for a niece that I am very close with, and has grown into the kindest, most thoughtful adult. I mentioned via text my 2015 kindle finally croaked - she responded with an Amazon screenshot of a new one with my address as the delivery location, and the words "from one book lover to another"..... (Insert crying face emoji).
Side note: Amazon has free electronics recycling! You can return old Kindles and such and get gift card credit, and 20% off a new model if you choose to upgrade! It was super easy, they send the shipping label and the gift card was in my account as soon as I pressed "enter"! They also take other non amazon items - check their website or Google it 🙂
I love that you said you appreciate the ability to walk and walk. I recently had an inflamed muscle in my buttock that was pressing on my sciatic nerve !!!!! I could barely move for weeks. And I said several times during that episode I would never take good mobility for granted ever again. Not being able to move freely is just awful. So I'm very grateful that I am moving again without pain.
I am thankful for fresh peaches! My mom always waits in line for the arrival of the peach truck and brought me a few bags. So sweet and juicy and just on another level from the ones in the grocery store.
I am thankful for all the bumblebees in my garden. They are so cute buzzing around; I feel like I could just sit and watch them forever.
I am thankful to have a garden. My kids are now a little older and hence I have had much more time to devote to planting and weeding and watering and clearing out grass. I’ve been able to add so many native plants and enjoy watching them grow.
Thankful for really fabulous weather on our camping trip. It was 78-80 and sunny with a few clouds and almost no humidity the whole time. Just beautiful.
Thankful to get to be home with my kids almost all summer. I only work less than one day per week so we get to spend most of our days hanging out at the pool or beach or park, or lounging around.
I live very close to Jim Thorpe and it is a beautiful town! I love riding the train in the fall to view the foliage, and at Christmas time they put up a ton of twinkle lights. It is so quaint and relaxing there! I hope you checked out Muggles Mug for coffee 🙂
Thankful my brother B who fell in the bathtub, is back home after two weeks in the hospital.
Very thankful for B's friend who called us when my brother did not answer his phone. We are very grateful for his help.
Thankful one of my other brothers was able to help get his house ready for him to come home.
For all the garden produce!
For our local produce market. I can buy what I did not grow and they have great prices.
I echo the gratitude for health. I finished an overnight training pack. I made some rookie mistakes like forgetting half my stove, not bringing enough toilet paper and leaving my hiking poles in the car. Sheesh. But I hike 8 miles of 3,00 ft gain/loss elevation with a 27 pound pack. I felt strong and confident especially as part of the trail coincided with the PCT and I saw not one solo woman or even a women close to my age.
I even met a black bear who dodged away immediately. I am thankful for courage and also being smart. I carry a bear canister and have learned safety protocol like bear spray.
I am grateful for sore muscles. Getting stronger is often uncomfortable.
Cooler weather. I can get work done without suffering heat stroke.
Delicious tomatoes. A great crop of basil for freezer pesto. Beets to pickle.
Baking up a storm to send home baked goods to the woodland firefighters fighting over 1 million acres of wildfires in our state.
Surviving a terrifying cougar momma + cub encounter this week at the barns. Keeping pup safe, she has the heart of a warrior.
My brother from another mother is setting up my exterior surveillance cameras today and his college aged kids and wife are arriving tomorrow for a visit.
@Blue Gate Farmgirl, wow; I'm so glad that you and @mary ann survived your wild animal encounters with yourselves and pets intact!
Thankful for more moderate weather today, for the hike with my daughter this morning, for a successful meet-up with her new college roommate on Tuesday, for friends and family, and for my cats.
Toyota and Honda, neck and neck in the race to perfection and reliability!
It seems that people on the east coast have more and easier options for quick getaways. that town and that stay sounded fabulous. Things are so spread out in the west that most any place good (except the mountains for me) are at least 3-4 hours away. And EXPENSIVE.
Bangs straightened, yeppers, I get that.
Thankfuls:
-Only 95° now at about 10:30 a.m. instead of 103°. Small blessings. . .
-Yesterday the author I've been working with for 7 years sent his book, Tales of TB—White Plague of the North, to the publisher!!! I was worried because he is almost 88 years old and visibly slowing down.
-I had coffee with a friend this morning for a catch-up before she returns to the Dominican Republic for a second year as a missionary.
-The most remarkable friend continues to reliably water the yard and feed the cats when we are at the cabin. . . so generous with her time, and refuses to let us pay her. So, I keep buying treats and leaving them for her. 😎
I LOVE solo travelling! I'm glad you were able to get away!
1. My top thankful is actually for a trip with my friend. We went to a fancy hotel for a night and swam in the pool, had massages and drank prosecco in a hot tub. It was amazing!
2. I celebrated my birthday early as I will be at work for the actual day. My family came over and I am very thankful for seeing them and the great presents and cards they gave me.
3. I'm thankful that I got to go for breakfast and yoga with another friend.
4. I'm thankful for a walk in the countryside yesterday. There wasn't much sunshine but it wasn't too hot and it didn't rain.
5. I'm thankful for a relaxing afternoon!
I also like to go on trips by myself. The destination usually involves time with friends and or family. My favorite/funnest was going to Alabama from NEMO in a Jeep w manual transmission I'd just learned to drive. And I had no GPS at the time, but I was and am adept at reading maps. My Boss had printed out a triptik (remember those?) and it was very helpful.
I am thankful that after I'd posted my comment yesterday about "caregiving being a season," that God reminded me to say that I did not care for my sister alone. Her daughter had the brunt of the responsibility. And we had a wonderful team of nonprofessional but compassionate caregivers from our church that took on the afternoon hours while we went to our paid jobs. (Well, I slept, and worked at night.) I am still thankful for "The Team," which also included some Mom's w children. The children's visits were referred to as "Kid Therapy" by Patsy and brought her a lot of joy. Two little boys, each from a dif family, began their experiences there by crawling out the dog door!
Thankful, for my 2013 Ford Escape (which I've dubbed "the Escapade) and though it has needed some work lately, I am thankful for the mechanic and automotive service that I go to. They do not cheat me, sometimes do little things free gratis, and are fun to be around. They want me to be safe and want my car to be in good mechanical shape.
Thankful I was able to get two thirds of the yard mowed yesterday and will finish after posting this. Thankful for timely rain showers which has meant minimal watering of new plantings, the garden tubs and planters. (The color pots look a little parched.) The nutrients added by the bazillions of dead cicadas our area experienced has made for overly flush foliage in spite of their egg laying that killed the tips of many plants, shrubs and tree branches.
Thankful for this season's fresh veggies and fruits. My body always feels better in the summer because of the bounty. I think even the addition of fresh herbs makes a difference.
Good fo you on the solo vacation! Happy you got to enjoy it before going back to school.
I'm thankful for:
* A husband with whom I can have great conversations
* Being able (financially) to work part-time (instead of full time)
* A peaceful house in a quiet and safe neighboorhood
* Books, books, booooooks!
* My little Daisy (dog), who loves me and always wants to cuddle
Jim Thorpe is a lovely place. So glad you had a nice getaway, despite overcast weather.
I am thankful that we have found a wonderful home health aide to assist my 105 year old MIL with bathing. As her strength, mobility and cognition diminish this is truly a blessing and a relief. Grateful that her urinary infection is almost gone.
Grateful that I have been able to attend all my exercise classes this week.
Grateful to spend some time with extended family this week and weekend.
Grateful to have clean windows (not a moment too soon).
Grateful for a nice steady rainfall earlier this week.
What do you recommend one to do while visiting Jim Thorpe?
Have you considered planning a frugal girl group weekend?
I would love to take a trip alone! But can't leave hubby at home, and he doesn't travel well anymore, so I can just enjoy everyone's photos!
Gratitudes, Husband edition:
1. Again, the Rescue Squad. Hubby felt last Thurs, they helped get him up, and then we all left, as he insisted he was alright. Later, after walking down the hall, he was unable to get up out of a chair due to severe pain in the left knee. He had to push his lifeline button, and the service called Rescue Squad back. They transported him to the ER, where it was discovered he had a fractured left tibia, just below the knee cap. I was at Bible study and didn't know anything for 2 hours.
2. It was his paralyzed leg, not the good one, so it's easy to keep it immobile with the knee brace, which in turn, minimizes his pain.
3. The usual delirium he experiences when in a hospital or rehab has been much less this time. Usually he becomes very confused, disoriented, and paranoid, and can get belligerent with me. On a scale of 1-10, ten being the absolute nightmare, he is about a 2 - 3. I've received only one 2 am phone call from him so far.
4. Having been through a similar experience 5 years before, and unfortunately having to go to the rehab at the bottom of our list again, I am a much better advocate for him now and am not above playing the nurse card when they try to blow smoke in my face.
5. I am retired, so I am able to be there for hours every day, as his needs exceed the usual staffing available, both in the hospital and in the nursing home/rehab.
Wife Edition:
1. I did take a day off on Tues, which was my birthday, in order to catch up on chores, handle some business, take a nap, and spend time with the poor, neglected canine child.
2. I am grateful for friends who flooded my texts and fb page with birthday wishes, 99% of whom had no idea hubby was incapacitated. I was indulging in a little pity party, and that raised my spirits immeasurably.
3. I did get a 10:30 pm call when hubby saw the date on his phone and realized it was my birthday.
Thankfully for me this week are numerous. Here are just a few of them.
1. I got to go to long-anticipated family reunion and on the same trip got to revisit the New England states, a visit I've wanted to do for more than 20 years.
2. I really like all of my family and they are genuinely pleasant people to be around. I know this isn't necessarily the norm.
3. Getting to enjoy all the interesting architecture on my trip which is very different from my part of the world.
4. For the ease of travel with electronic navigation systems (although I actually still enjoy paper maps!).
5. For seeing old friends again after 25 years.
6. For the privilege of sitting down with an old friend and visiting for hours catching up. There is nothing quite like visiting with someone who you've known since childhood.
7. For my own bed and cooler air on returning home
8. For the miracle of travel today. Bridges, highway systems, flying across the continent in a single day! I take these things for granted when they are such a privilege.
9. For the progress I noticed in recreation venues making an effort to be more accessible to all. I noticed museums, etc., that had options for low-income people to participate, more places that were encouraging children to participate by providing good things for them to do, more options for people with mobility issues, washrooms with changing stations for adults not just babies, quiet rooms for those who get overstimulated, shows advertised for people with sensory issues, and so on. Not that many years ago, people with diverse needs were just overlooked and excluded. There is still more work to be done, I'm sure, but these signs of progress are encouraging.
10. For music.